Apparatus for weaving and knotting cut-pile fabrics



De@ 6, 1966 s. s. c. FLEISCHER Ems... 3,289,705

APPARATUS FOR WEAVING AND KNOTTING CUTP1LE FABRICS Filed Sept. 15. 1964 15 Sheets-Sheet l S. S. C. FLEISCHER ETAL.

APPARATUS FOR WEAVING AND KNOTTING CUT*'PILE FABRICS Filed Sept. 15, 1964 olv ,zffff/"W r/L/v Dec. 6, 1966 Dec. 6, 1966 s. s. c. FLEISCHER ETAL 3,239,705

APPARATUS FOR WEAVING AND KNOTTING CUT-PILE FABRICS Filed Sept. 15, 1964 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 DeC- 6, 1966 s. s. c. FLElscHl-:R ETAL 3,289,705

APPARATUS FOR WEAVING AND KNOTTING CUT*PILE FABRICS Filed Sept. l5, 1964 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 Fig. 9o

,fluff/fus' (H l Mul? f Dec. 6, 1966 s. s. c. FLElscHER TAL 3,289,705

APPARATUS FOR WEAVING AND KNOTTING CUT-PILE FABRICS Filed Sept. 15, 1964 v l5 Sheets-Sheet 5 DSC 6, 1966 s. s, c. FLElscl-IER ETAL 3,289,705

APPARATUS FOR WEAVING AND KNOTTING CUTPILE FABRICS Filed Sept. l5, 1964 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 DeC- 6, 1966 s. s. c. FLr-:lscHER ETAL. 3,239,705

APFARATUS FOR WEAVING AND KNOTTING CUT*PILE FABRICS Filed Sept. 15, 1964 13 Sheets-Sheet 7 Dec. 6, 1966 s. S5. C. FLEISCHER ETAL 3,289,705

APPARATUS FOR WEAVING AND KNOTTING GUT-PILE FABRICS Filed Sept. l5, 1964 13 Sheets-Sheet B Dec- 6, 1965 s. s. c. FLExscHER ETAL 3,289,705

APPARATUS FOR WEAVING AND KNOTTING CUT-PILE FABRICS Filed Sept. l5, 1964 13 Sheets-Sheet lO DeC- 5, 1965 s. s. c. FLEISCHER ETAL 3,289,705

APPARATUS FOR WEAVING AND KNOTTING CUT-PILE FABRICS Filed Sept. l5, 1964 l5 Sheets-Sheet 11 Dec 6, 1966 s. s. c. FLElscHER rs1-A1.. 3,289,705

APPARATUS FOR WEAVING AND KNOTTING GUT-PILE FABRICS Filed Sept. 15, 1964 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 Dec. 6, 1966 s. s. c. FLExscl-IER ETAL. 3,289,705

APPARATUS FOR WEAVING AND KNOTTING CUTPILE FABRICS Filed Sept. l5, 1964 15 Sheets-Sheet 15 United States Patent 3,289,705 APPARATUS FR WEAVING AND KNO'ITING CUT-DELE FABRICS Svend Sigurd Christie Fleischer, Kroyersvej 14, llampenborg, Denmark; Christen Carl Thomsen, Skovvej 93, Charlottenlund, Denmark; Gottfried Gerhard Wilhelm Hofmann, Am Baum 37, Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany; and Werner Heinrich Rossborg, Moosberg 17e, Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany Filed Sept. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 396,582 Claims priority, application Germany, Sept. 17, 1963, F 40,776 24 Claims. (Cl. 139-5) The present invention relates to a carpet loom, and more particularly to apparatus for weaving and knotting cut-pile fabrics.

The German Patent No. 806,360 discloses a carpet loom in which the tufts are knotted in a row during a rst cycle of operation, while in the following cycle, a weft thread is inserted and `beaten up.

It `is one object of the invention to improve this construction, and to provide a carpet loom in which weaving of the base fabric and tying of the tufts are carried out during the `same operational cycle.

Another object of the invention is to control the movement of gripper means so that the same cause crossing of adjacent warp threads for tying the tufts.

In accordance with the invention, gripper means for the tufts, the slay with the reed, and the shuttle are operated in a timed relationship, and the control means controlling the motions of these elements are driven from common drive means, and more particularly by cam followers controlled by cams rotating in synchronism.

In accordance with the invention, the reed is placed closely spaced from the gripper means when the lsame move into the warp `shed for gripping tufts, so that the reed holds the warp threads precisely positioned permitting the grippers to pass between the same into a shed. When the grippers are lfully advanced through the shed to -an operative position for gripping the ends of a tuft, the slay moves the reed away from the grippers so that a shuttle sliding on a race formed by the reed can be picked through the warp shed. Thereupon, the grippers with the tuft .are moved toward the fell of the fabric, and the reed moves at the same time toward the fell to beat up the newly inserted weft. The movement of the grippers toward the fell is `combined with a movement to a retracted Iposition by which the tuft is pulled to form the pile. The ends of the tufts are kept straight by the grippers during the beating of the weft thread by the reed so that the tufts are very tightly tied ino the base fabric.

Preferably, the finished fabric or cloth is normally wound up in one direction. The cloth beam is caused to turn a certain angle in the opposite direction to move the cloth toward the reed so that the grippers are located out of the path of movement of the slay and reed when being retracted from the warp shed. In this manner, additional motions of the slay and reed, and of this control devices are avoided, and it is possible to -operate the loom at a high speed resulting in an increased production with a quietly running loom.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the warp threads are loosened in the movement in which they are moved to a crossing position by lateral motions of the grippers. While the warp threads are thus loosened, the tensioning means which normally tensi-on the Warp threads, are braked under control of cams driven by the drive means of the carpet loom.

All motions of the grippers, including the opening and closing of the same, are controlled from cams driven -by common drive means, so that all movements of Cil the grippers are synchronized and in timed relation with the movements of the slay, the reed and the heddle frames.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each gripper has upper and lower jaws, and the lower jaw is xed, while the upper jaw is mounted for angular movement, and is controlled by a cam follower over a resilient connecting means so that the upper jaw is closed with `resilient pressure, assuring a precise holding of the respective gripped tuft, independently of the thickness and shape of the particular gripped pile thread forming the tuft.

The tufts are held in holders which are transported into the region of clamping means which grip the holders to hold the tufts in the proper position for being gripped yby the grippers. The clamping means release the holder when the tuft has been removed by the grippers, and move to a retracted position to permit the movement of the slay with the reed required for beating up the insert weft.

In order to form a good selvedge, the inserted weft thread should be tensioned and kept straight. This is accomplished in accordance With the invention by a stationarily mounted element, which may 'be resilient, and which presses the inserted weft thread against the shuttle race. During movement of the slay, the portion engaging the shuttle race is displaced and pulls the weft thread to a straight and slightly tensioned position.

The carpet loom according to the present invention preferably includes a weft stop motion having a Ifeeler operated by the moving slay to engage a xed adjustable stop causing movement of the feeler to a sensing position in which it is stopped by an inserted weft thread. However, if the weft thread `is broken, the feeler moves beyond the race and causes actuation of a switch interrupting the circuit of the drive motor of the loom.

The car-pet loom of the invention produces a pile fabric with Persian knots. It is possible to guide the base fabric in a horizontal plane, or in a vertical plane.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its -method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the 4accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view illustrating the grippers in a first operational position;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on 4line x-x in FIG. 3 and illustrating another operational position;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view -illustrating the operational position of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side view illustrating a retracted position of the grippers;

FIG. 5 is a schematic cross section taken across the Warp threads and illustrating a tied knot;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side view illustrating a first position of the slay and gripper;

FIG. 7 is a schematic side view illustrating a second position of the grippers;

FIG, 8 is a fragmentary side View illustrating control means for turning the cloth beam in opposite directions;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side view illustrating a transmission forming part of the control means shown in FIG. 8; l

FIG. 9a is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a detail of FIG. 9 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side view illustrating control means for operating the transmission of FIG. 9 for turning the cloth beam opposite to its normal direction of rotation;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating distances of cloth movement depending on time;

FIG. l2 is a fragmentary side view illustrating means for reducing the tension of the warp thread threads while the same are crossed by the grippers;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary side View illustrating control means by which the grippers are moved between retracted and operative positions, and opened and closed;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line A-A in FIG. 15;

FIG. 1.5 is a front view illustrating a detail of control means for moving the first and second grippers relative to each other;

FIG. 15a is a fragmetnary side view illustrating the drive of the control means for moving the first and second grippers relative to each other;

FIG. 16 is a fragmentary, partially sectional, side view illustrating a device for closing the grippers;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary side view illustrating means for clamping tuft holders, and operating means for opening and closing the clamping means;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary front View illustrating means for tensioning a newly inserted weft thread in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary front View illustrating another embodiment of means for tensioning the weft thread;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary side view illustrating a weft stop motion; and

FIG. 21 is a side view, partially in section, illustrating a carpet loom according to the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 5 which illustrate the basic operation according to the invention, a fabric f is formed of warp threads and weft threads. A warp shed is formed of two warp sheets consisting of parallel warp threads, only .a single warp thread a and a single warp thread b being shown to represent the warp sheets. A pair of gripper means 1 and 2 is provided for each pair of warp threads a and b, and it will be understood that a series of pairs of first and second gripper means 1 and 2 cooperates with a corresponding series of pairs of warp threads a and b.

Initially, each pair of gripper means 1 and 2 is l0- cated outside `of the warp shed in a retracted position shown in FIG. 4, but being empty. T he gripper means are moved to a position in which gripper means 2 is located on one side of gripper means 1, in which position gripper means 1 and 2 are located on vopposite sides of the warp thread a when the gripper means are moved to the position of FIG. 1.

Thereupon, all gripper means 2 are moved a distance corresponding to the spacing of two warp threads relative to gripper means 1, so that gripper means 2 is located on the other side of gripper means 1 whereby gripper means 1 and 2 are located on opposite sides of warp thread b when penetrating the warp shed. The transverse movement of gripper means 2 forms a kink in warp thread a.

Thereupon, gripper means 2 is moved back in the opposite direction to a position aligned with gripper means 1, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. Due to this movement of gripper means 2, warp thread b is kinked, while the kink of warp thread a is reduced, and the warp threads cross each other as shown in FIG. 2.

In this aligned position of gripper means 1 and 2, the gripper means are opened and closed to grip the ends of a tuft 3 which is held in a suitable position by holding means which will be described hereinafter. Control means cause a retraction of gripper means 1 and 2 to the position shown in FIG. 4 so that tuft 3 is pulled through the warp shed, and also between the crossing warp threads a and b and assumes a tied position shown in FIG. 5. A weft is inserted into the open warp shed and below the tuft, as shownl in FIG. 4, and beaten into the fell of the fabric so that the tied knot is secured to the fabric.

Referring now to FIGS. 6, 7 and 21, a slay 5 carries a reed 6 whose elements pass through the warp sheds on opposite sides of individual warp threads a and b. The reed forms a race for a shuttle 7 which draws a weft thread through the shed when picked in the usual manner. A sword 8 supports slay 5 and reed 6 for oscillating motion. The movement of the slay with the reed 6 is controlled in synchronism with the movement of the gripper means so that the reed is close to the gripper means Ifor holding the warp threads in parallel spaced positions during the movement of the gripper means into and through the warp shed. Since the warp sheds are held parallel by the elements of reed 6, each gripper means can enter the space between adjacent warp threads so that each pair of gripper means is located on opposite sides of a single warp thread. The tufts 3 are held by a holder 4 in the position of FIG. 6 and then pulled straight by the grippers in the position of FIG. 7 in which the slay has further moved to cause beating of the inserted weft into the fell of the fabric for securing the tufts of the respective row in tied positions. The point c in which the tuft is gripped is located below the point d to which the grippers move for moving the tuft into the fell of the fabric so that the weft thread can be properly beaten up.

Gripper means 1 and 2 are respectively mounted on bars 98 and 91 which can be shifted relative to each other for moving the grippers as described with the reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Connecting rods 85 and 89 are operated by links 83 and 87 to open and close the grippers, as will be described hereinafter in greater detail.

As shown in FIGS 8 and 21, the woven and tufted fabric is transported by cloth beam 16 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 8. As shown in FIG. 10, the drive shaft 18 carries a cam 9 controlling `a roller 12 on a cam follower of lever 11 which is mounted on a pivot 13 and connected by a link 14 to a coupling disk 15 mounted on a shaft 28 for free turning movement, as best seen in FIG. 9 and FIG. 9a. A second coupling disk 15 is secured to shaft 28 for rotation therewith, but is movable axially thereof, and when coupling disks 15, 15 are in the normal coupled position, shaft 28 will be stepwise rotated under the control of cam 9. As best seen in FIG. 9a, axial movement of coupling disk 15 is prevented by a pair of rings 15a and 15b xed to shaft 28. Coupling disk 15 is connected with shaft 28 by a key and groove connection 15b which transmits the torque to shaft 28 and permits axial shifting of coupling disk 15 in the direction of the arrow by an annular shifting member 15a to a coupled abutting position in which the turning movement of disk 15 is transmitted by disk 15 to shaft 28 when link 14 is operated, as explained above.

As shown in FIG. 10, annular shifting member 15a has two journal pins z supported in bearing bores of a forked lever 152 which is mounted on a pivot 153 and is operated by a pull rod 154 which may be operated by a cam, not shown, as described with reference to the operation of link 14 by cam 9. Pull rod 154 presses coupling disk 15 against a friction face of coupling disk 15 so that a torque is transmitted to shaft 28 for turning the cloth beam. When the coupling disks are disengaged, as shown in FIG. 9a, shaft 28 is freely rotatable. A ratchet wheel 25, and a pinion 17 meshing with a pinion 18 are fixed on shaft 28, so that during turning movement of shaft 28, the rotary motion is transmitted through pinion 18 to a gear 19 which is secured with a change gear Ztl to a shaft 22 supported by a carrier 23 which is pivotable about journal pin 24 on which pinion 19 is mounted. Change gear 20 meshes with a gear 21 secured to cloth beam 16. Consequently, cloth beam 16 is stepwise turned for transporting the finished fabric in the direction of the arrow. The opposite pull exerted by the fabric tends to rotate shaft 23 in the opposite direction, but this is prevented by a pawl 26 mounted on an angularly movable arm 32 which is pivotally connected with a link 31. Link 31 is connected by a pivot 34 to a cam follower lever 29 having a roller 30 controlled by a rotary cam 27 on drive shaft and another pivot 33 mounted on a rack bar 38 which meshes with a gear 37 on a manually operable hand wheel 36. In the illustrated position, roller 311 rests on the circular cam track portion of cam 27, so that ratchet wheel 25 cannot displace pawl 26 and rotate in counterclockwise direction. During rotation of shaft 11i, cam 27 is turned to a position in which its recess 27 receives cam follower roller 3l) permitting link 31 to drop whereby carrier .arm 32 is turned in counterclockwise direction together with pawl 26, permitting the ratchet wheel 25 to turn in counterclockwise direction for a limited distance so that this turning motion is transmitted by `shaft 28l and gears 17, 13, 19, 20 and 21 to the cloth beam which turns a limited angle in clockwise direction until roller 31) is urged out of the recess 27 of cam 27 and causes arm 32 to move with pawl 26 in clockwise direction for turning ratchet wheel 25 in clockwise direction and thereby cloth beam 16 in counterclockwise direction for again transporting the fabric away from the gripper means. The movements of the fabric are schematically illustrated by the diagram of FIG. 11.

This return movement of the fabric in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6 takes place while the reed moves toward the fell of the fabric so that the slay does not have to move as high up as in conventional looms. This results in a substantial increase of the speed of operation and of the length of the produced fabric. Since reed 6 substantially stops the rearward moving fabric the return movement is not transmitted to the warp sheets.

If it is desired to adjust the angle of the return rotation of cloth beam 16, and thereby the distance which the fabric is moved toward the gripper means and the reed, hand wheel 36 is turned to displace rod 3S and pivot 33 which causes pivot 34 to move farther down, for example. The adjustable stop 35 limits downward movement of pivot 34 and rod 31 when roller 30 is located in cam recess 27, so that the angular displacement of pawl 26, and thereby the angle of the return movement of the ratchet wheel 25 .and of the cloth beam 16 are limited and adjusted.

As explained above, each warp thread a or b has to be kinked by lateral movement of the gripper means 1 and 2 so that the warp threads a and b of each pair of warp threads cross each other, as best seen in FIG. 2. An additional length of warp thread is required for the kinks, and since the warp threads are normally supplied under tension, the warp threads must be slackened to permit the crossing of the warp threads.

A device serving this purpose is illustrated in FIG. 12 and FIG. 21. The series of warp threads a and the series of warp threads b are supplied by a warp beam 63 over oscillating roller means 53 mounted on a support 54 which is angularly movable about the shaft of warp beam 63. A spring exerts a force P on support 54 so that the same is urged to turn in counterclockwise direction with roller means 53 to tension the warp threads. One arm of carrier 54 has a gear segment 54a meshing with a gear 55 secured to the shaft 56 of a brake drum 57 over which a brake band 62 passes. A cam 58 contnols over a cam follower roller 60 a cam follower lever 59 which is secured to a brake lever 61. In accordance with the shape of cam 58, brake band 62 is periodically displaced and brakes drum 57 together with gear 55 so that angular movement of 6 support 54 is blocked by gear segment 54a, and support 54 cannot be turned by its spring in counterclockwise direction to tension the warp threads.

Warp threads a and b are guided over roller means 39 and 40 which are mounted on lever arms 45 and 51 turnable about shafts 46 and 52. The lever arms are respectively connected to links 44 and 50 which are secured to cam follower levers 42 and 48 having cam follower rollers 43 and 49 and being pivotable about a fixed pivot on the frame of the machine. Rotary cams 41 and 47 have endless lateral cam tracks guiding cam follower rollers 43 and 49 and having partly different shapes, as shown in the lower portion of FIG. 12, so that levers 42 and 48 are oscillated to move roller means 40 and 4S into and out of the loops of the warp threads a and b whereby the same are slackened when rollers 39 and 40 move upward as viewed in FIG. 12. The thus slackened warp threads can be moved by gripper means 1 and 2 to the crossed position shown in FIG. 2, and cams 58, 41, and 47 rotate in timed relation with the control means by which gripper means 1 and 2 lare transversely shifted as will now be explained with reference t0 FIGS. 14, 1.5, and 15a. At the moment in which the fabric is rearward moved, roller means 39 and 40 are lowered momentarily by a pair of cam track portions 41 and 47 so that warp sheets a and bdo not become slack.

The lower jaws of gripper means 1 form a continuous leg of an angular member 1a secured to a bar 90. The upper jaws 1b 4are independently turnable about pivot means 98. The lower gripper means 2 have a continuous upper jaw 2a, and independently movable lower jaws 2b mounted on a pivot means 2c. The upper jaw 2a is secured to a second bar 91.

A bar 9G is supported on a carrier member 68, and bar 91 has guideways engaging portions of bar 90 and being guided along the same together with the second gripper means 2. As best seen in FIG. 15, the stationary bar 91) supports a control lever 92a with a. cam track 92 for turning movement about a pivot 93, and the control lever can be angularly displaced by operation of rod 96. A cam follower roller 95 is mounted on a pivot 94 secured to the movable bar 91 and located in the cam track 92. When rod 96 is displaced and the control lever 92a is turned, roller 95 is displaced and displaces the shiftable bar 91 relative to bar 90 along the same whereby the second gripper means 2 performs a motion relative to the associated gripper means 1 from a position located on one side of the same to a position located on the other side of the same, and finally to an aligned position, as explained with reference to FIGS. l, 2 and 3.

Cam means 92, 92a, roller 95, and rod 96 are part of control means for transversely displacing the gripper means relative to each other, and these control means further include a rotary cam having a cam track 152 engaged by a cam follower roller 154 on a follower lever 153 which is pivotally mounted on a stationary pivot 69. A link 155 connects the end of follower lever 153 with a lever arm 156 connected by a shaft 157 to another lever arm 158 which is pivotally connected with rod 96. Shaft 157 is mounted in a bearing on carrier member 68. Consequently, cam lever 92a will be turned in accordance with the shape of cam track 152 so that bar 91 with the lower gripper means 2 is shifted relative to the upper gripper means 1 to effect crossing of adjacent warp threads.

FIGS. 13 and 15a also show control means for moving the gripper means 1 and 2 simultaneously between shaft 10, as also shown in FIG. 21. Cam track 64 causes a vertical oscillation of carrier member 68 together with bars 90 and 91 and gripper means 1 and 2, while carrier member 68 is at the same time oscillated about pivot 72 by a follower member 67 pivotally connected by pivot 67a to carrier member 68, and having a follower roller 66 controlled by a cam track 63 of a cam mounted on shaft 65a which is driven by a gear train 67h from drive shaft 10. Cam track 63 causes a substantially horizontal movement of the gripper means between the retracted position shown in FIG. and the operative position shown in FIG. 3, but since at the same time cam track 64 is effective to raise and lower carrier member 68, the ends of the gripper means move from the lower point c shown in FIG. 6 to the higher point d shown in FIG. 7. In this manner, the pile tuft is not only pulled tightly into the warp threads, but also pushed against the previously inserted weft thread. As explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the reed 6 follows the gripper means during this movement to beat the newly inserted weft thread against the newly inserted pile tufts, whereupon the heddle frames close the warp shed. It will be seen that all movements of the gripper means are synchronized since the control cams are connected by the gear train 67b so that all motions are derived from the drive shaft 10.

The opening and closing of the gripper means takes place in synchronism with the above described motions, and is also derived from a cam on cam shaft which has a cam track 73 guiding a cam roller 75 on a follower lever 74 which is mounted on pivot shaft 69. The free end of follower lever 74 is connected by a pivot to a link 76 which is connected by pivot 79 to a cam lever 78a mounted on a pivot 78b on carrier member 68 -and oscillating under the control of cam track 73. A shaft 81 is mounted on carrier member 68, and has a follower arm 80 with the roller located in cam track 78 of cam lever 78a. For each pair of gripper means 1 and 2, a pair of arms 82 and 86 is secured to shaft 81 and oscillated in accordance with the shape of cam track 78. Arms 82 and 86 are respectively connected by links 83 and 87 to double armed levers 84 and 88 which are mounted on shafts 84a and 88a supported by carrier member 68. The other ends of levers 84, 88 are respectively connected by adjustable rods 85 and 89 to the movable jaws 1b and 2b of the respective pair of gripper means 1 and 2. Consequently, the control means 73, 75, 76, 78, 83, 87, 84, 88 and 85, 89 will cause opening and closing of the gripper means in synchronism with the motions of the gripper means which are all derived from drive shaft 10. As explained above, the gripper means will close in the operative position of FIG. 6 while being aligned as shown in FIG. 2, and will open in the retracted position of FIG. 7.

The construction of connecting rods 85 and 89 is schematically shown in FIG. 13, and FIG. 16 shows the preferred construction in greater detail for the first gripper means 1 and connecting rod 85. It will be understood that the corresponding construction is provided for the second gripper means 2 and the connecting rod 89.

-Referring now to FIG. 16, rod 85 has two threaded portions connected by a knot 106 so that the length of rod 85 can be adjusted. The end of rod 85 is threaded into an actuating member 101 slidably receiving the stems of adjacent pressure members 100 which are connected by pivot means to adjacent movable jaws 1b of the first gripper means 1. Actuating member 101 has threaded bores into which adjustable screws 104 are threaded. The lower ends of screws 104 project from actuating member 101 and are in contact with projecting members 103 which are slidable on the stems of pressure members 100. Springs 102 surround the stems and abut against projections 100a so that the projecting members 103 are urged against the adjustable stops 104. Each pressure member 100 has a projecting stop pin 105 which is engaged by actuating member 101 when rod 85 is moved upward 8 with actuating member 101 so that the movable jaws 1b are opened. Due to the fact that pressure members 100 extend at an angle to each other, the adjacent movable jaws 1b can be closely spaced since the guide bores in actuating member 101 are spaced from each other.

When rod is moved downward by the control means described with reference to FIG. 13, the force transmitted by rod 85 and actuating member 101 does not directly act on the jaws 1b of the grippers, but is transmitted by members 103 and springs 102 while members 103 move downward along the stems of members 100. In this manner, a resilient force is exerted on the gripper jaws to close the same, and different gripper means can be opened to different extents which is necessary if the gripped pile tufts have ends of different thickness.

By adjusting the length of rod 85 by means of nut 106, a rough adjustment is carried out, while by adjustment of screws 104, jaw 1b is pretensioned to close, and actuating member 101 is connected with pressure members 100 so that the same move upward with connecting rod 85 and actuating member 101 without any play. Stop pins 105 are engaged by actuating member 101 during upward movement of connecting rod 85 so that the upper jaws 1b are opened by members 100.

Vi/hen the length of connecting rod 85 is adjusted, the closing pressure exerted on the gripper jaws is varied.

Due to the fact that only the lower jaw 1a is common to all gripper means 1, while a series of upper jaws 1b is actuated by a series of members 100, pile tuft ends of different thickness can be safely gripped by the grippers, and the jaws 1b can be turned different angles about shaft 98. A series of grippers 1 is illustrated on the right side of FIG. l5, the portion 1 of the lower jaw 1a being secured to bar and movable with the same as explained above, while the upper jaws 1b turn about shaft 98 which is secured to the lower jaw 1a of gripper means 1. Control means ;as described above for gripper means 1, are also provided for gripper means 2 and operated by connecting rod 89, shown in FIG. 13. The upper jaw 2a is shifted with bar 91 and shaft 2c with the series of movable jaws 2b, as shown in FIG. 14. A resilient pressure transmitting device to 105, as shown in FIG. 16, is provided between connecting -rod 89 and the movable jaws 2b.

Referring now to FIG, 17, the pile tufts are attached to holders 4 with the tuft ends projecting toward the fabric and the grippers, and are transported by a iconveyer chain 108 which is driven by a chain wheel 109 and taken up by another chain wheel 110. A guide chain wheel 111 reverses the direction of movement of the holders after the tuft 112 has ybeen removed `by the grippers in the position 112, also shown in FIG. 3.

In order to exactly determine the position 112' of each holder, the same is clamped by `a pair of clamping members 113, and again released after the tuft has been removed by the grippers. Pinions `are secured to the clamping members 113 and mesh with each other so that clamping members turn simultaneously. Gear segment 114 is mounted for turning movement on `a support 107 which is mounted for angular movement between the position I and the position II. The :chain loop formed by wheel 111, and the holders 4 move with support 107. A spring 116 is mounted on a pivot means for angular movement and is connected by pivot 117 to link 115 which is connected =by pivot 118 to gear segment 114. A second rod 121 is secured `by pivot 119 to support 107, and has a threaded end portion passing through a bore in spring 116 and carrying a pair of nuts on opposite sides of the spring.

When support 107 is moved from the position I to the position II, spring 116 is angularly displaced, causing a relative movement of rods 121 and 115 so that gear segment 114 is turned and turns clamping members 113 to a releasing position so that the respective holder 4 is released and can travel with conveyor chain 108.

By adjusting the length of rod 121, the clamping pressure of jaws 113 can be adjusted, the clamping pressure being reduced when rod 121 is made longer, and increased when the same is made shorter. In the position I, spring 116 is bent so that clamping jaws 113 are resiliently pressed against the holder.

The oscillating movement of support 107 is derived from a cam follower, not shown, controlled by a cam on drive shaft 10. The intermittent movement of chain 108 with holders 4 is derived from a Geneva drive including a slotted wheel 161 secured to chain wheel 109, and a drive wheel 166 having a pin passing into the slots of wheel 161. Drive wheel 160 is mounted on the same shaft as chain wheel 110, and is connected to another chain wheel driven by a chain 159 from a chain wheel secured to drive shaft 1), as shown in FIG. 21.

It will be understood that a pair of clamping members 113, and a conveyor chain portion with holders 4 is provided for each pair of gripper means 1 and 2.

Since the tufts placed between the warp threads are held in position by the next following inserted weft thread, 4it is advantageous to tension the inserted weft thread so that the same lies against all tufts of a row. This is accomplished by a tensioning device controlled by the motion of the slay, FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrating two embodiments of this device.

The warps of a fabric 128 are supplied from a warp beam 125 located between a pair `of walls 122 and 123. A slay 124, a shuttle 131i, and heddle frames 126 and 127 are schematically shown. A lever 131 is mounted for turning movement about the stationary pivot 132 and has an arm 134 connected by a spring 133 to a fixed frame portion so that an engaging portion of lever 131, which is preferably covered by a friction lining, is engaged by the race on the surface of slay 124 when the same has moved to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 18. In this position, tne shuttle has traversed the warp shed, but the end of the weft connected to shuttle 130 is still spaced from the fell of the fabric. When the slay moves on to the position 124', lever 131 is turned to the position 131 against the action of spring 133 so that the engaging portion of lever 131 pushes the inserted weft farther in the inserting direct-ion indicated by the arrow, so that the slack of the weft thread is eliminated, and the saine lies straight in the fell of the fabric.

In the embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 19, a loop 135 is urged by a rod 136` and a spring, not shown, to move into a recess of the race of the slay when the slay moves farther toward the fell of the fabric. The slack of the inserted weft thread is taken up by an open loop formed in the weft thread by the loop 135 in the slot of the race. The straightening of the inserted weft thread may also be obtained by yblowing a jet of air through the warp shed vin the direction of the weft inserting motion of shuttle 136. Thread tensioning devices as described with reference to FIGS. 18 and 19 may be provided on both sides of the fabric.

In the preferred embodiment of the carpet loom of the present invention, the loom is stopped when a weft thread breaks, or is not properly inserted into a warp shed.

In the weft stop motion shown 4in FIG. 20, a feeler 147 is provided either -on one side, or on both sides of ythe fabric between the fabric edge and the tensioning lever 131, for example.

As shown in FIG. 20, the feeler 147 is secured to a member 140 controlled by a pair of toggle levers 141 and 142. A roller 143 mounted on lever 142 and located in a slot of lever 141 connects levers' 141 and 142. Lever 141 is mounted on a journal 1416.', and lever 142 is mounted on a journal 139, both journals being secured to a bracket 137 on a slay portion 138 Awhich forms an extension of reed 6. A stop 144 is ysecured by a screw and nut 151 to a frame portion, and 'by loosening nut 151, the position of stop 144 can be adjusted. `Stop 144 cooperates with roller 146 at the end of lever 141. A spring 148, adjustable by a nut and slot connection 150, is secured to lever 141 and urges lever 142, member 140, and feeler 147 1@ to turn in clockwise direction to the position 147". However, when a weft thread 148 is located on the race for shuttle 7, feeler 147 is .stopped in the position illustrated in solid lines.

The shuttle 7 is picked through the warp shed in the lowest position of the slay in which roller 146 abuts stop 144, and the force of spring 148 is overcome by the slay so that the feeler is turned to position 147.

When the shuttle has passed through the warp shed, and the slay moves with the reed toward the fell of the fabric, roller 146 moves away from stop 144, and spring 148 turns the feeler to the position 147 where further turning movement is blocked by the inserted Aweft thread 148.

However, if no weft thread is sensed by the feeler, the feeler moves to position 147 so that lever 142 is turned in clockwise direction beyond the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2G until an abutment thereon engages the button of a microswitch 149 which is connected into a circuit by which the motor and drive means of the loom are stopped when switch 149 `is actuated. yIt is also possible to produce a signal by switch 149, instead of stopping the loom.

The tension of spring 14S is adjusted hy -adjusting means 15d so that the pressure of the feeler 147 is insufiicient to form an open loop Ain a newly inserted weft thread passing into the recess which receives the feeler when the weft thread breaks.

While a shuttle has been described for inserting `the weft thread, it will b-e understood that the weft thread could be inserted by other means.

While the several control means by which the motions of the grippers and tuft holders are controlled, include cams in the described embodiment, hydraulic control 'apparatus could also be provided in the loom.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of looms differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated `and described as embodied in a carpet loom` having grippers which cross warp threads before inserting a tuft and means for inserting a weft thread into the warp shed in which the tufts are placed, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any Way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it fo-r various applications Without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specic aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A -carpet loom comprising, in combination, heddle means for forming *warp sheds comprised of two warp sheets, each sheet having one warp thread of pairs of warp threads which are arranged across the warp; a row of pairs of rst ad second gripper means disposed in one direction across one of said warp sheets, said pairs of first and second gripper means being spaced from each other corresponding to the spacing between said Warp threads of one warp sheet, said first and second gripper means lof each pair being movable in said one direction between a Iirst position in `which said second gripper means ih located on one side of said first gripper means so that said first and second gripper means are located on opposite sides of one warp thread of one warp sheet, a second position in which said second gripper means is located on the other side of said first gripper means and spaced from the salme so that said vfirst and second gripper means are located on opposite sides of another warp thread of the other warp sheet and so that a kink is formed in said one warp thread, and a third position in which .said first and second gripper means are aligned, each pair of first and second gripper means being movable between a retracted position located outside of sai-d warp shed, an intermediate posit-ion penetrating said one warp sheet, and an operative position penetrating also the other warp sheet between said warp threads; first control means for moving said first and second gripper means of each pair 'between said first, second and third positions; second control means for moving said pairs of -gripper means from said retracted position to said intermediate and operative positions, and back; holding means for holding a row of pile tufts outside of the other warp sheet and with the tuft ends in the region of said operative position of said pairs of gripper means; third control means for opening and closing said first and second gripper means; and drive means for driving7 said rst, second and third control means in timed relationship so that said one warp thread is kinked in said second and intermediate positions, said other warp thread is embraced by said first and second gripper means on opposite sides in said operative and second positions, so that said other warp thread is kinked and crosses said one warp thread in said operative and third positions while saidfirst and gripper means are open, so that the tuft ends are gripped by said first and second gripper means being closed by said third control means in said operative and third positions, and so that said tuft is drawn through crossing warp threads 4by said closed first and second gripper means as the same are moved back to said retracted position by said second control means.

2. A carpet loom according to claim 1 wherein said gripper means in .said operative position are farther spaced from the fell of the fabric than in said retracted position.

3. A carpet loom according to claim 1, and including means for inserting a weft thread into said warp shed when said tuft is lgripped -by said first and second gripper means and before said heddle means close said warp shed, and a slay having a reed reciprocated by said drive means; and wherein said drive means operate said slay so that said reed moves toward said gripper means while said -gripper means move to said retracted position and is close to the same while said gripper means move to said operative position, and so that said reed moves away from said gripper means for the insertion of said weft thread, and then beats the inserted weft thread against said tufts `and into the fell.

4. A carpet loom according to claim 3, and including transporting means for alternately moving the fell and finished falbric in a take-up motion a large step away from said gripper means and in a let-back motion a smaller step in the opposite direction.

5. A carpet loom according to claim 4, wherein said transporting means include a cloth beam, transmission means connecting said drive means with said cloth beam and including a rat-chet pawl; and shifting means for displacing said `ratchet pawi opposite to the normal direction of rotation of said ratchet wheel for a predetermined angle so that said cloth beam turns a predetermined angle in a let-back motion for moving the fell and fabric toward the reed when the same approaches the fell.

6. A carpet `loom according to claim 5, wherein said shifting means include a rotary cam, a cam follower linkage cooperating with said cani and having one end connected with said pawl and another free end forming a pivot, means for manually displacing said pivot, and adjustable stop means for llimiting the movement of said cam follower linkage.

7. A carpet loom according to claim 1, and including a warp beam for letting off said warp threads; means for tensioning said warp threads, and slackening means for reducing the tension of said warp threads so that the same are slackened during the movement of said first and 12 second gripper means between said first and second positions.

8. A carpet loom according to claim 7, wherein said `tensioning means perform -an angular oscillating movement; land w-herein said releasing means incl-udc brake means, cam means driven from said drive means, and cam Ifollower means connected with said brake means for actuating the same for braking said tensioning means.

9. A carpet loom according to claim 8, whe-rein said slackening means include first and second roller means for engaging said first and secon-d warp sheets Ifollowing said tensioning means, and cam follower means controlled by said cam means for moving said roller means with said warp sheets for slackening and tensioning the same.

10. A carpet loom according to claim 1, Iand including a first bar for .supporting -all said Ifirst gripper means; a second bar guided -on said first bar land supporting all said second gripper means; and means `for shifting said second bar relative to said first bar so that said .gripper means are moved between sai-d first, .second and third positions.

11. A carpet loom yaccording to claim .10, and including a carrier member supporting sai-d first and second bars at one end thereof; and cam means driven from said drive means to oscillate said carrier member so that said gripper means move between said retracted yand operative positions.

12. A carpe-t loom according to claim 11, wherein s-aid third control means include cam follower means connected with said cam means so that said gripper means are opened `and lclosed in synchronism with the movements of said bars.

13. A carpet loom accordi-ng to claim 1, wherein each gripper means includes first and sec-ond gripper jaws, said second gripper jaw being mounted on said first gripper jaw :for turning movement; and wherein said third control means include .cam means driven `from said drive means, cam follower means including an actu-ating member, a pressure member con-nected with said second gripper jaw and yguided in `said .actuating member, and spring means connecting said lactuating member with said pressure mem-ber .so that said second gripper jaw is resiliently pressed against said first gripper jaw.

14. A carpet loom according to claim 13, wherein sa'id first :gripper jaws of .said rows of first and second gripper means, respectivley, are rigidly connected to cach other.

15. A carpet loom -according to claim 1, a-nd including a carrier member supporting said first and second gripper means; a pair of shafts mounted on said carrier member, a series of first levers mounted on one of said shafts, a series of second levers mounted on the other shaft, cam means and cam follower means connected with said first and second levers, and adjustable connecting rods respectively connecting said first and Isecond levers with said second :gripper jaws of said first and second gripper means.

16. A carpet loom according to claim 15, wherein each gripper means h-as -a first gripper jaw secured to said carrier member land a second movable gripper jaw connected with said connecting rod.

17. A carpet loom according to claim 1, including fourth control means driven from said drive means and connected with said holding means 4for moving the same stepwise to a positi-on for holding said tufts in the region of said grippe-r means in said operative position.

18. A carpet loom according to claim 17, wherein said holding means include clamping members mov-able between a clamping position land a releasing position, tuft holders and means for moving said tuft holders stepwise successively into the region of said .clamping members so that said tuft holders -are clamped while said 'gripper means grip the tufts and are released after removal of respective tufts; and oper-ating means for operating said clamping members.

19. A carpet loom according to claim 18, wherein said fourth control means include yan oscillating support for said clamping members; and wherein `said operating means inclnde pinions oonnecting said 'clamping members for turning movement, ygear means meshing with one .of sa'd pinions, a first rod connected with said igear means, a `second rod connected with said support, and pivoted spring means connecting said rods.

2t). A c-arpet loom according to claim 1, including a slay having a race for a shuttle inserting -a weft thread into said warp shed; and stationarily mounted means for en- Igaging the inserted weft thread so that the .same is tensioned and straightened during movement of said slay tow-ard the fell of the fabric.

21. A ycarpet loom according to claim 20, wherein said stationarily mounted means includes a resilient means having a portion abutting said raoe of the slay -and being iturnable about a stationary pivot axis so that the abutting portion moves the inserted weft along said race during movement of said slay.

22. A carpet loom according to olaim 20, wherein said `stationarily mounted means has a portion Afor engaging the inserted weft thread, and wherein said slay and race have a recess into which said portion draws said weft thread .during movement of said slay for tensioning the inserted weft thread.

23. A carpet loom aocording to claim 1, including a slay having a race for la shuttle inserting a weft thread into said warp shed; a feeler for sensing a weft thread on said race; spring-loaded means on :said slay connected with said feeler; and a stationary adjustable stop for operating sai-d spring-loaded means and said eeler during movement of said slay; and switch means actuated by said `springloaded means when said feeler 'senses no weft thread on said race, said .switch means being adapted to interrupt the cirouit of a motor forming part of said drive means.

24. The method of makin-g a carpet comprising, in combination, inserting a pair of grippers through o-ne warp sheet of a warp `shed and on opposite sides of a warp thread; shifting one of said 'grippers to the other side of the other gripper to a position in which said igrippers are located on opposite sides of an adjacent warp thread in the other warp sheet; moving the grippers throulgh the other warp sheet; moving `said lone Igripper to a position aligned with the other 'gripper so that said wanp threads are crossed; gripping with Isaid 'grippers the ends of la pile tutt; pulling with said -grippers ythe ends of said tutt through said warp sheets; inserting -a weft thread into the warp shed formed by said warp sheets; and closing said warp shed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,690,802 11/1928 Venajl 139-5 FOREIGN PATENTS 496,566 10/1953 Canada.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

DONALD W. PARKER, ROBERT R. MACKEY,

Examiners.

H. S. JAUDON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A CARPET LOOM COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, HEDDLE MEANS FOR FORMING WARP SHEDS COMPRISED OF TWO WRAP SHEETS, EACH SHEET HAVING ONE WARP THREAD OF PAIRS OF WRAP THREADS WHICH ARE ARRANGED ACROSS THE WRAP; A ROW OF PAIRS OF FIRST AND SECOND GRIPPER MEANS DISPOSED IN ONE DIRECTION ACROSS ONE OF SAID WARP SHEETS, SAID PAIRS OF FIRST AND SECOND GRIPPER MEANS BEING SPACED FROM EACH OTHER CORRESPONDING TO THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID WARP THREADS OF ONE WARP SHEET, SAID FIRST AND SECOND GRIPPER MEANS OF EACH PAIR BEING MOVABLE IN SAID ONE DIRECTION BETWEEN A FIRST POSITION IN WHICH SAID SECOND GRIPPER MEANS IS LOCATED ON ONE SIDE OF SAID FIRST GRIPPER MEANS SO THAT SAID FIRST AND SECOND GRIPPER MEANS ARE LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF ONE WARP THREAD OF ONE WARP SHEET, A SECOND POSITION IN WHICH SAID SECOND GRIPPER MEANS IS LOCATED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID FIRST GRIPPER MEANS AND SPACED FROM THE SAME SO THAT SAID FIRST AND SECOND GRIPPER MEANS ARE LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF ANOTHER WARP THREAD OF THE OTHER WARP SHEET AND SO THAT A KINK IS FORMED IN SAID ONE WARP THREAD, AND A THIRD POSITION IN WHICH SAID FIRST AND SECOND GRIPPER MEANS ARE ALIGNED, EACH PAIR OF FIRST AND SECOND GRIPPER MEANS BEING MOVABLE BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITION LOCATED OUTSIDE OF SAID WRAP SHED, AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION PENETRATING SAID ONE WARP SHEET, AND AN OPERATIVE POSITION PENETRATING ALSO THE OTHER WARP SHEET BETWEEN SAID WARP THREADS; FIRST CONTROL MEANS FOR MOVING SAID FIRST AND SECOND GRIPPER MEANS OF EACH PAIR BETWEEN SAID FIRST, SECOND AND THIRD POSITIONS; SECOND CONTROL MEANS FOR MOVING SAID PAIRS OF GRIPPER MEANS FROM SAID RETRACTED POSITION TO SAID INTERMEDIATE AND OPERATIVE POSITIONS, AND BACK; HOLDING MEANS FOR HOLDING A ROW OF PILE TUFTS OUTSIDE OF THE OTHER WARP SHEET AND WITH THE TUFT ENDS IN THE REGION OF SAID OPERATIVE POSITION OF SAID PAIRS OF GRIPPER MEANS; THIRD CONTROL MEANS FOR OPENING AND CLOSING SAID FIRST AND SECOND GRIPPER MEANS; 